Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton loves where his league stands in the world of college athletics.

Fullerton, addressing the media at the Big Sky media days Monday in Park City, Utah, boasted about the league’s power position as one of three football-playing Division I conferences in the western United States.

And Fullerton didn’t shy away from talking about the Big Sky’s hopes for expansion. He wants to go after Idaho and New Mexico State in the future.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the upside the Big Sky has over the next five years,” Fullerton said. “I think you will see us expand into new territories just as a brand that we’ve never been before.”

Idaho, of course, isn’t a new program to the Big Sky. The Vandals were a charter member of the conference in 1963 and left the league following the 1995-96 season.

Idaho returned to the Big Sky in 2014 in all sports but football. The Vandals are part of the Sun Belt Conference for football and were picked to finish last in the preseason coaches’ poll.

Fullerton argued that Idaho will find the Big Sky a more attractive option for football over the next few years because the dynamics of college athletics are changing.

When the NCAA passed a package of autonomous legislation in January, Fullerton says a new line was drawn between the five power conferences (the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern) and the rest of the nation, particularly leagues like the Mountain West, Mid-American, Conference USA and the Sun Belt.

“Quite frankly, if you look at the institutional profile, if you look at the way we do business, I’ll put our conference up against any of those conferences,” Fullerton said. “So now we’ve been able to get that line drawn underneath the top five. That next five is beginning to struggle ... at keeping up.”

Essentially, Fullerton contends the Big Sky’s influence in college athletics is growing. Soon enough, Idaho will not be able to stay away.

“Over time now if we can close the gap on that next group, it will make a lot more sense to (Idaho),” Fullerton said.

STAYING HEALTHY DESPITE A HEAVY WORKLOAD

Idaho State intends to spread out senior running back Xavier Finney’s workload over the course of the season because the Bengals want Finney at his best late in the year.

He was hurt in ISU’s 11th game of the 2014 season and finished with 259 rushing attempts, the most in the Big Sky. Cal Poly senior quarterback Chris Brown was right behind Finney with 249 carries.

Brown had 39 carries for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the Mustangs’ narrow 30-28 loss in Holt Arena. What exactly does Brown do to try and stay healthy despite the weekly physical pounding?

“Postgame, I immediately head to the training room,” Brown said. “They unstrap me to make sure I get any nicks and bruises handled. I’m wrapped up, get some ice going. I take some ice home.”

Brown said he ices his throwing shoulder, legs, calves and hamstrings and spends plenty of time in the training room throughout the week.

STRONGER THAN HE LOOKS

Finney isn’t the biggest guy at 5 foot 11, 203 pounds. But Sacramento State linebacker Darnell Sankey says Finney knows how to deliver a blow.

“He can definitely pack a punch. That’s what I don’t think a lot of people know until you actually go against him,” Sankey said. “Once he hits you, it’s like whoa, whoa, wait a second. It’s like, this guy, he’s pretty strong.”

Sankey is a member of a Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team after compiling 100 tackles and forcing three fumbles as a junior. He had one of his worst games against Idaho State. Sankey was ejected in the first quarter after a controversial (for Sac State, at least) call for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

“You could say it was debatable but a call is a call,” Sankey said. “I just don’t think that we had a backup plan. ... The next guy up was a true freshman. He didn’t have a lot of experience under his belt, and it’s kind of a big role to fill. You’re calling all the calls, making all the plays. Flying around against a great team. I think it just kind of hit us by surprise.”

Idaho State went on to win 44-24 and had 639 total yards. Sankey gets another shot this season to slow down the Bengals. ISU plays at Sac State on Oct. 24.

“You guys have a great running back. So one gash, one hole, he’s going to take it,” Sankey said. “I don’t know who you guys have coming back at quarterback, but if he’s anything like the last one, you’ve got to watch out for that too.”